Writing instrument

ABSTRACT

There is described a writing instrument of the ball point type having a clip member extending away from the writing tip. The lower end of the instrument body has a recess into which the clip member is received when the instrument is used. In one version, the clip member consists of a spring ring to which is attached a clip and the instrument body is tapered to allow sliding of the ring and the clip in the recess. In another, the clip is integral with a plate displaceable on the feed element.

United States Patent [191 Moore 1 WRITING INSTRUMENT [76] Inventor: Lou Moore, 400 Island Dr., Merrit Island, F121. 32952 [22] Filed: Sept. 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No: 177,333

[52] U.S. Cl 24/11 F, 401/104 [51] Int. Cl 843k 25/00 [58] Field of Search 24/11 R, 11 FE, ll PP,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,481,774 9/1949 Norlin 24/11 F 2,699,147 1/1955- Rhoadcs. 24/11 F 3,203,402, 8/1965 Lockwood 401/106 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I France 401/104 [11] 3,825,976 1 July 30, 1974 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner 57 I ABSTRACT There is described a writing instrument of the ball point type having a clip member extending away from the writing tip. The lower end of the instrument body has 'arecess into which the clip member is received when the instrument is used. In one version, the clip .Lmember consists of a spring ring to which is attached a clip and the instrument body is tapered to allow sliding of the'ring and the clip in the recess. In another, the clip is integral with a plate displaceable on the 1 feed element.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures Phliminmaolsu I saw 1 w 2 FIG. R/0A Aer) m5 4 m0 M u 0.

FIGS F|G.4 FIG.5

WRITING INSTRUMENT The present invention is concerned with improved writing instruments, in particular, of the ball point pen, in which the writing part is a ball supplied with ink contained in an elongated tube.

Such instruments are provided attheir portion remote from the writing tip with a clip by means of which the writing instrument can be attached to the hem of a pocket. In use, the pocket clip often hits the hand of the user at an undesirable angle causing annoyance and irritating the skin.

The main'object of the invention is to provide a novel construction in which the pocket clip is positioned near the writing end and is receivable in a recess provided therefor near said end when the instrument is in use.. Theclip is readily and manually removable from the recess when the instrument is to be fastened to a pocket hem.

This object and others will be understood from the following description taken together with the drawing in which:

FIG. I is an elevational view of a prior art pen;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a pen .of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the version of the invention showing in FIG. 2 the clip outside its recess;

FIG. 4 is the same as FIG. 3'but showing the clip and its ring in the recess; and 1 FIG. 5 is a side view of another version showing in dashed line the clip outside the recess and in solid lines, inside the recess;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the pen in FIG. 5 along the axis 66, the pen being rotated 180;

FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the pen in FIG.. 5 along the axis 8-8, the pen being rotated 180.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a writing instrument of known construction 1 being an elongated two piece structure the two parts being screwed together at 2 and being hollowed out to allow passage of a retractable writing member 3 actuated by pusher 4. The upper part of the device is provided with a clip 5 which is secured therein in one of several possible ways which are not of interest here and which points toward the writing end.

FIG. 2 shows generally the invention with clip 5 positioned in the lower of the two parts of the device in recess 6 shown in dotted lines and positioned so as to point away from the writing end.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show one version of the invention in which the clip 5 is integral with a springy metallic or plastic ring 7, the normal diameter of which is smaller than that of lower member 8 around which it fits slidably. In this embodiment, the beginning part of recess .6, i.e., proximate to the writing end gently slopes or tapers as at 9. In FIG. 3, ring 7 has been moved way from the sloping area and accordingly it and the clip are outside recess 6 so as to be able to fasten on the hem of a pocket. In FIG. 4, the ring has been moved up into the sloping region of the recess and it and the clip fit flush in recess 6. This is the use position of the writing instrument.

In FIG. 5 is shown another version of the invention where clip 5 is integral with plate 10. Here recess 12 in lower member 8 has an open bottom allowing communication with tubular ink container 11. In assembling this modification, clip 5 and plate 1 0 are inserted in member 8 before inserting tubular container 11 which is then passed through an elongated slit 20 (FIG. 6) in plate 10. This slit 20 allows sliding movement of clip 5 from inside recess 12 as shown in solid lines tov a position outside the recess shown in dotted lines.

Two means of preventing wobbliness of the assembly within the recess can be resorted to. In one, clip 52 (FIG. 7) is made slightly longer than recess 12a and of resilient material like Teflon, polyethylene, Nylon, so that it can be slightly force-fitted inside the recess. Alternatively, plate 10 (FIGS. 5 and 6') is made resilient and the slit 20 therein is made narrower than the diameter of member 11 with the same result.

Amongst the advantages of the present design is the better hold on the writing instrument afforded by the presence of the clip and ring in a recess, the whole affording a better grip for the fingers on the lower extremity of the instrument. Also, the chances of the gar-J ing with said recess, said clip comprising. a ring portion and a clip portion, said ring portion engaging said lower part and positioned between said clip portion and said aperture, said clip portion being movable from a position outwardly from said lower part to a position within said recess in response to longitudinal movement of said ring, the movement of said clip being independent of the movement of said writing member. 

1. A clip in combination with a writing instrument, said writing instrument having an upper part and a lower part, said lower part having an aperture at its end encircling the point of a writing member, said lower part having a recess extending longitudinally thereof, said recess being tapered in the direction away from said aperture in said lower part, said clip communicating with said recess, said clip comprising a ring portion and a clip portion, said ring portion engaging said lower part and positioned between said clip portion and said aperture, said clip portion being movable from a position outwardly from said lower part to a position within said recess in response to longitudinal movement of said ring, the movement of said clip being independent of the movement of said writing member. 